A symbol of the wild west, the American
bison, also called the American buffalo, is the heaviest land mammal in
North America. The bison has a large head with relatively small, curving
horns. It has a shaggy coat of brown hair on its shoulders and legs,
while its body has shorter, finer hair.

SIZE:

Bison are 5 to 6½ feet long and weigh 900
to 2,200 pounds. Males are usually larger than females.

POPULATION:

Historically, there used to be an
estimated 30 million to 60 million. Today, approximately 200,000 remain
in the United States. Of those only 16,000 roam in the wild. Yellowstone
National Park has the only population of truly free-roaming bison.

LIFESPAN:

Bison typically live between 12 to 15
years.

RANGE:

In the wild, bison are found in parts of Canada and the western United States.

HABITAT:

The Great Plains, prairies, and forests.

FOOD:

Bison eat grasses, moving continuously as
they eat so that they do not overgraze an area.

BEHAVIOR:

Bison live in herds of 20 to 50 animals.
The females, or cows, lead family groups. Bulls (males) remain either
solitary or in small groups for most of the year. Bison travel as a
group and roam great distances in the wild. They can reach speeds of up
to 30 mph.

OFFSPRING:

Females produce one calf after a
gestation period of nine and a half months. Calves are born in late
April to mid-May. Both the bull and the cow protect the young. The
offspring may remain with the mother for as long as three years after
birth.

THREATS:

Shooting bison for their hides was a
favorite frontier sport in the 19th century. Hunters
practically eliminated the bison by 1890. In 1893, the first efforts
were made to protect the animals. Today, the bison of Yellowstone
National Park face the threat of slaughter when they exit the park and
enter the state of Montana. Montana fears that bison will pass diseases
to their cattle.

PROTECTION:

A petition to list the Yellowstone
population as endangered is being reviewed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.